essie | GEL COUTURE™

Hi guys, I’m so happy to finally be able to share with you a sneak peek of the upcoming essie Gel Couture Collection! You may be wondering “what took essie so long” to develop an at home gel system as we’ve already seen Sally Hansen, OPI, CND and even Revlon’s take on this… Well, the truth is, they spent a while making sure the application and formula would be flawless, and trust me it. is. flawless. So sure, they might be a little behind in the gel game but once you try Gel Couture, you’ll know why.

I’ll let you guys read through the press release and then we’ll dive into my favourite things about these polishes and of course some swatches! 😉

Gel Couture is “perfect for both salon and at-home application, the instant gel-like shine is delivered in an easy 2-step system that anyone can master!” and the best part is that the GC line is actually divided into 4 fun collections; Atelier, First Look, Fashion Show and After Party. While I won’t be swatching all 42 shades just yet, (I haven’t had the time) I will make sure to include a few from each collection in this post, but don’t worry I will definitely add all 42 eventually.

Also, can we talk about the brush!? The brush is life changing!! essie claims their Gel Couture brush is “a first-to-market curve hugging, patent-pending swirl stem brush. Its meticulous design hugs the curvature of the nail and ensures perfect color application.” and I just can’t oppose that. I was super skeptical at first because I adore essie’s regular thin brush, I have small fingers and nails so the tiny brush is perfect for me. The Gel Couture brush is truly amazing and delivers such a flawless application, I swear you’ll never want to use anything else (like I’m legit thinking of just cleaning then dipping the GC brush in any polish I use in the future). IT’S THAT GOOD, GUYS.

The Gel Couture formula also claims to leave minimal staining (if any). While it’s recommended to use no base coat, you may want to use one if you are very prone to staining or have ridges. What I love about this unique formula is that it doesn’t cause bubbles like many other at-home gel polishes. Oh yeah and the Gel Couture Top Coat is quick-drying and not UV sensitive. Unlike gel•setter the GC top coat formula is a bit thinner and does not clump over time (yay)!

Let’s take a look at the different collections:

ATELIER;Embodied by the neutrals.

“Make a powerful statement in whisper soft essie neutrals. Inspired by the atelier’s go-to palette of tulle, fishnet and lace. These shades seamlessly fuse delicacy with quiet strength. From lustrous pearls and sheer veils to creamy silks, there’s a shade of luxe for every heart’s desire.”

shown below is atelier’s ‘first view’a baby cashmere blue

Ugh. Obsessed. Could’ve gotten away with one coat but I followed the instructions and applied two. :p

FIRST LOOK;Embodied by the pastels.

“Win hearts with graceful charm in essie pastels. Fashion comes out from backstage to first look and pulls out all the stops in these alluring, ultra-feminine pastels. This cotton-candy rainbow of creams is all about how you style it: with taste, wit and cutting-edge style.”

show below is first look’s ‘pre-show jitters’analabaster white

Although the shade states alabaster white, I found there to be subtle pink hues in here. Almost like the original ‘fiji’ but more white. I always love testing light opaque shades because they are notorious for streaking. No clumping. No fussing. Gel Couture is the real deal.

FASHION SHOW; Embodied by the brights.

“Turn heads on the runway in essie brights. These entrance makers are brilliantly boundary-pushing and flawlessly fashion forward. From red-hot crimson to acid chartreuse, each shade vividly proclaims your place on couture’s fabulous throne.”

This red applied evenly and left no staining. Two even coats topped with Gel Couture Top Coat.

AFTER PARTY; Embodied by the deeps.

“Soar to new fashion heights in decadent essie deeps. Bask in the glamorous celebrations and come dressed to the nines. From an ebony kiss to midnight plum, this stylish after party is more mysterious under the cover of darkness.”

shown below is after party’s ‘off duty-style’adeep dusty teal

Look how nicely the brush allows the colour to line up with the cuticle- no spilling and no clean-up! LOVE.

…and finally, here is the shade story:

All in all, I’m obsessed! Not just because it’s essie but because the product is truly amazing and well worth the wait. From the funky bottle design (which stacks beautifully btw) to the formula, to the the brush and even the long wear and shine, Gel Couture is something that you need in your collection.

essie Gel Couture will retail for 13.99 CAD and launches in stores and salons on June 14th, 2016– so soon, I know!

How many of you can’t wait to get your hands on these beauties?! If you want to see how they compare to regular essie shades (any dupes, etc.) keep checking back as I’ll be continuously adding to this post.

1 Comment

Aaaaah, how does one decide which colors to get first? They all look so good! Great post. I feel like the Atelier and First Look collections are going to to be what I gravitate toward first. I hope my local stores carry the bulk of all of these collections. I can’t believe you got all 42 shades!